3.5 Ecoboost swap...thoughts? (2 Viewers)

[NearJetties]

Holy scope creep Batman

I’m all for a fully custom rig as long as you’re not tearing up a survivor. However, let’s recall this thread started as an alternative to an LS swap. It’s obviously up to you if you want to go down this path but let’s call a spade a spade.

 

[Morgan Evans]

Passenger drop Atlas and center a FZJ80 rear axle or a doubler to Split case and keep 60/80 axles would be the only options I’d consider for small tires (37”- down). I don’t see swapping to drivers side drop or different brand of axle worth saving on a transfer case that probably isn’t ideal for a cruiser anyways

I think we are getting soemewhere close. Your suggestion will work. However, what about retaining stock axles and running that beautiful "Black Box" doubler to the split-case? No need to change axles at that point? I'm planning on running 255/85/16 tires, 35's max. I think the stock axles and split-case will hold up to 450ftlbs and 375hp with 33's.

Are we close tof inding the feasability of this rat race?!

 

[Morgan Evans]

Holy scope creep Batman

I’m all for a fully custom rig as long as you’re not tearing up a survivor. However, let’s recall this thread started as an alternative to an LS swap. It’s obviously up to you if you want to go down this path but let’s call a spade a spade.

Not a survivor! Just a rust free, handsomely dented, 250k mile FJ62. I think establishing the feasability of this swap is critical. More options will become available over the years as the million Ecoboost powered vehicles start to litter scrap yards. Its such an enticing platform, and still only 6 cylinders

 

[cruisermatt]

The problem with a doubler and automatic is length. Lots of potential floor cutting and short rear driveline.
I would probably just draw up a adapter and straight to the splitcase and have the input gear broached. Custom adapters are not really as monumentous of a task as they’re usually made out to be... if you know the right people

 

[Retrofj60]

We did a 2.5 eco boost in a early bronco! It was great swap!

 

[Seth S]

We did a 2.5 eco boost in a early bronco! It was great swap!

View attachment 2223040

Wow!! what a clean job. Looks 100% factory. Well Done!!

The Saab B234 engine found in the 9-5 will bolt up to a Vauxhall bell housing making it easy to adapt to a T5 gearbox. The engine is a 2.3 turbo and with the TD04 and stock tune it makes around 220 hp but can be easily tuned for around 300 with minimal work or impact to reliability. Extra bonus it if you pull the motor from a car in the junkyard you can grab the harness and computer and then you have a really nice drop in package. this option would be a bit small for something like an FJ60 but there are a few people who have put them into Jeeps.

 

[FJBen]

Holy scope creep Batman

I’m all for a fully custom rig as long as you’re not tearing up a survivor. However, let’s recall this thread started as an alternative to an LS swap. It’s obviously up to you if you want to go down this path but let’s call a spade a spade.

I was just getting ready to say put a 62 body on a Raptor frame/driveline and be done

 

[Morgan Evans]

 

[Foolster]

On our farm we have an F150 with the 2.7 Ecoboost. This is a much smaller engine, lighter weight, but with plenty of power. I think you would be much happier with this engine. We are. I would figure out how to fit and use the Ford 10 speed automatic. I am an old manual transmission user but the new Ford 10 speed is the first automatic that is more efficient shifting than I can with a manual. Whenever I drive the F150 and am careful to stay out of boost mode I am getting better than 29 mpg in rural driving. That is lie-o-meter mpg. If I actually hand calculated mpg I am probably in the 26-27 range.

I think with the ecoboost engines you really want the 10 speed automatic because they are so electronically connected and work so well together. If you split the engine from the transmission then you have to do something with the signals the engine is looking to receive from the transmission. I have no idea how hard this would be.

 

[Foolster]

I would be looking at a 2018 or newer 2.7 that had port fuel injection to minimize carbon build up on the valves.

 

[Morgan Evans]

A friend of mine who has a dealer license and dabbles in flipping cars is looking at collision salvaged f150 eco right now. We decided the most cost effective and efficient way to do a swap would be running an Atlas transfer case behind the 10 speed. If he buys the truck, I'll supply the cruiser and in the end, I'd like to sell it. So.... maybe a year or so And this might be popping up for sale .

 

[Zjohnsonua]

@Morgan Evans, I've been mulling over an EB project like this with a local mechanic/machinist for a few months now. The 2.7 EB is a monster for its package, there's a zillion of them out there, and they make good power. But to your point, the snag comes in getting the package to play with a cruiser with the offset case. We need a package like the one put together by Mark's for the 4L60/80s. Based on his talks, he sees a market if the trends continue, but it comes down to one question... What would you be willing to pay for a kit that let the ford trans play with a split case?

 

[Foolster]

My path forward, which is slightly off topic, is to use the 2.7 to repower older F350s with manual transmissions as farm trucks. I am in the hay business so I only use the truck several weeks a year. Basically one week for every cutting with up to four cuttings a year. Most of the time, the truck is empty. Hay is not that heavy so I pull a trailer with another 10,000 pounds of bales.

After my experiences with our farm F150 I am rethinking keeping the manual transmission and replacing both the engine/transmission pair. Once I start doing this I will open up a new thread. Ford made too many gas engines with bad sparkplugs and bad diesels with known problems that left a lot of F250/F350 trucks out there that can be acquired cheaply with blown motors.

 

[Roosevelt T]

Bumping this to see if anything ever came of it...

 

[Seth S]

I'll add a new reference point too. New Ford Maverick comes standard as FWD with a 2.5 liter hybrid driveline and base price about $19,000. But to get a 4000# towing capacity you have to go to the 2.0 liter Ecoboost engine with AWD and the many speed trans that I cant remember.

 

[Roonie]

watch the carbon build up. Had a 2014 f150 ecoboost bought new. The dealer ended up doing entire engine replacement twice. Once at 30k and again at 65k. Both times they had my truck for over a month all under warranty but mine was not the only one they were doing. At that same time they has maybe 5 others in for same thing. Finally traded it in as I couldn't trust it after warranty expired as the cost to fix it was around 15k each time which I was not willing to do after warranty. The engine when it was working was amazing though.

 

[Brain Damage]

I guess nothing happened here? I just picked up a wrecked 12 f150 3.5 ecoboost. Will be transplanting in my 00 XJ.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

I guess nothing happened here? I just picked up a wrecked 12 f150 3.5 ecoboost. Will be transplanting in my 00 XJ.

 

[cruisermatt]

I guess nothing happened here? I just picked up a wrecked 12 f150 3.5 ecoboost. Will be transplanting in my 00 XJ.

Of course not. Day dreamers are just that

 

[Brain Damage]

Well I got the drivetrain out of donor truck today. It will be awhile before install. Going to sell what is good from wrecked truck. Leaving state for Christmas, and wife has back surgery as soon as we get back. May have to buy an atlas. Didn't want to but may have to.